Vallejo police arrest arson suspect in mayor's law office fire

Vallejo police have arrested the suspected arsonist who allegedly torched several buildings around town since June, including Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis' law offices.

Police arrested Maude Love, 44, of Vallejo, in connection with three arson fires: June 6 at Cooley and Riolo Mortuary, 505 Couch St.; July 30 at Taylor Chapel, 1203 Louisiana St.; and Sept. 29 at the Law Offices of Micheal Thompson and Davis on Tuolumne Street.

Shortly after the fire Davis told reporters that he had received a number of threats but offered no specifics.

A court document shows that Love sued Davis in November 2005 in Solano County small claims court. Davis said Friday he does not remember specifics about the case, but recalls that the court dismissed it.

Davis, who was not mayor at the time, said all he remembers was that the claim was "totally unintelligible." Davis declined to elaborate further, citing ongoing criminal proceedings.

"I'm glad we are making progress," Davis told the Times-Herald.

The early morning two-alarm fire in the one-story office building gutted much of the building's interior, but most records were salvaged, fire officials said at the time. Hours later, investigators determined that the blaze was caused by arson, but provided no specifics.

The June fire that damaged the former mortuary on Couch Street also reached second alarm. The mortuary had closed in February. At the time the cause of the fire was unknown, but officials speculated it could have been accidentally started by squatters.

Unlike the other two, the fire at the Taylor Chapel was small and damage was confined to a small area -- above and below a broken side window. At the time officials said they felt it was started by an arsonist.

Love was booked into Solano County jail and his bail was set at $250,000. His Solano County Superior Court appearance is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Fairfield.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call Detectives Drew Ramsay or Les Bottomley at 1-(800)-488-9383.